Automatic crankshaft grinding and polishing machine



Dec-25,1945. 1 IE.A.FUGLIE ETA 2,391,406

AUTOMATIC'CRANK SHAFT GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 as as 5| O 84 A 57 w I INVENTOR. F ELMER A. FUGLIE BY HILTON J. ANDERSON ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1945. E. FUGLIE ET AL AUTOMATIC CRANK SHAFT GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE 7 Sheeis-Sheet 3 Filed. June 4, 1945 INVENTOR. ELMER A.FUGLIE BYHILTON J .AN E SON a z ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1945. E. A. FUGLIE ET AL AUTOMATIC CRANK SHAFT ,GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE I Filed June 4, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 4' FIG.

ON J.ANDE SON] ATTORNEY E mm m X M 5 & w F E v BY/4 Dec. 25, 1945. E. A. FUGNLIE ETAL AUTOMATIC CRANK SHAFT GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE TSheefs-Sheet 5 Filed June 4, 1943 llO FIG. I3.

' INVENTOR. ELMER A; FUGLlE 3Y0 muron J. ANDERSON I TTORNEY Dec. 25, 194 5, E. A. FUGLIE ET'AL AUTOMATIC CRANK SHAFT GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE 7 Sheetse-Sheef. 6

Filed June 4, I943 ELMER A.FUGLIE HILTON J. ANDERSON W fifim y Dec. 25, 1945. E. A, UGUE ET AL 2,391,406

AUTOMATIC CRANK SHAFT GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE FiledJune 4, 1945 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I72 2|3 .214 I72 FIG. l9. 25

I V I I I 5:

I74 |74' 173 I73 no I69 I69 ELMER A. FUGLIE HILTON J.ANDERSON Patented Dec. 25, 1945 AUTOMATIC CRANKSHAF T GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE Elmer Alvin Fuglie and Hilton John Anderson,

Winona, Minn., assignors to Winona Tool Mfg.

Company, Winona, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application June 4, 1943, Serial No. 489,708

9 Claims.

Our inventionrelates to machines for automatically grinding and polishing shaft bearings, such as crank shaft bearings, and has for its object to provide a machine wherein the bearings of the crank shafts may be ground to true circular-cross-sections entirely automatically. without the intervention of human hands forany purpose excepting to change the grinders and polishers volved, a series of inner bearings more or less in number according to the number of cylinders of the motor which the crank shaft serves. The second type of bearings are the rod bearings, sometimes called the throw bearings, whichare offset axially from the axial center of the main bearings and thus in a rotation of the crank shaft describe with their axes a series of circles concentric with the axis of the crank shaft.

Heretofore in grinding these crank shaft bearings it has been practiced to mount a motor and shaft carrying a grinder disc upon a support adaptedv for rocking and sliding movements and i to hold the face of the grinder against a bearing of the crankshaft. The grinder is connected with a motor and rotated by it. While the grinder is so held and rotated, the crank shaft itself will be turned about the axial center of the main bearings in the manner in which it will turn when in normal operation in a motor. The result is that the face of the grinder is rotated upon a surface of a bearing, and, if it is a rod bearing it is at the same time itself rotated so that the grinder is continuously presented to a'partof the whole circumferential'area of the bearing.

The grinding tool in practice is cylindrical, of small diameter and usually with a central hole in or through it. The grinding action iseffected by contact of the exposed plane face of the tool contacting the bearing, and, since the bearing is or is made to become a cylinder, that contact must be along successive longitudinal elements of the cylindrical surface. It follows that vtodo the Work effectively and produce a suitable hear-- ing surface the plane of theface of the grinding tool must be exactly parallel to the axial center of the main bearings and also of the throw or rod bearings when the latter are being ground. It has been a very grave difficulty in past pracin operation. These tice to obtain this absolute parallelism. For exceedingly small deviations therefrom will result in grinding tapered bearings, which, even though the, taper be exceedingly small, cannot in use give satisfactory results.

Serious difiiculties also have heretofore been encountered in so supporting the grinder and the motor foroperating it that the movements in rocking and sliding of that support will be continuously effective and certain and satisfactory difliculties have been due to the fact that there has beenirregular wear of the grinder support; permitting or causing the grinding tool to get out of alignment, that there has been jamming and sticking of the parts and frequent breakages requiring replacements.

Another serious difficulty in the operation of crank shaft grinders is in getting the grinder face proper to operate over the entire circumferential area of the crank shaft bearing. It is of the utmost importance that the grinding operation be effective and complete for the entire circumferential area of the bearing. That is, for the whole length of the bearing from one side wall to the other.

It is'impractical and usually impossible to get a grinding tool of a diameter exactly that of the length of the bearing,and even if such a tool could be developed and used, such a wide tool would not true the shaft bearing effectively for its whole width. So in practice it has-been customary to make the grinder of a diameter much less than the length of the bearing, and for an operative to move the grinder back and forth on the crank shaft bearing along the support on which the grinding apparatus is slidably mounted.

This movement of the grinder itself has been in an arc of a circle not along an element of the cylindrical surface of the bearing and hence not parallel to the axial center of the main bearings and ro'd -bearingwhich is being ground. So, while this operation may bring measurably good resuits, it depends a great deal onthe skill of the operator, it takes up an operators time, and it cannot do the satisfactory work that is accomplished by moving the grinder face back and.

' forth inright lines along the elements of the cylindrical surface of the bearings and at all times parallel to its axial center. This difficulty has been encountered both for the main bearings and for the rod or throw bearings.

There has also been great difficulty in properly bearings are being ground. This difficulty has been almost insuperable because variances of only a fraction of a thousandth of an inch have produced unsatisfactory work and it has been almost impossible to get machining of the tool holding means precise enough to overcome that difficulty. 7

Another difiiculty, or at least disadvantage, has been in polishing and bufling of the bearing after it has been ground. This has been customarily accomplished independently of the grinding operation and it also has required an operator to control the polishing belt and cause it to move from side to side along the length of the crankshaft bearing.

It is, therefore, a primary object of our inven tion to provide a machine for truing, grinding, and polishing crank shaft bearings, which at the same time will overcome all of the abovenoted difiiculties and disadvantages of present practice and which will be entirely automatic throughout.

Specifically it is an object of our invention to provide in conjunction with a longitudinal polished supporting shaft a plate member having a cylindrical extension mounted upon said rod for easy sliding movement along the same and forrocking movements upon it and to carry on said plate a supporting bar member having parallel faces engageable with rollers carried by the plate member so that the supporting member may be held for oscillating movement in conjunction with the oscillation of the plate member and for sliding movement along said rollers.

It is a further object of our invention to provide such a supporting member with a pair of projecting boss-like structures to which the tool and operating motor support are connected, and to support the same through a compression spring by which the pressure of the grinder on the crank shaft bearing is regulated.

-It is a further and highly important object of our invention to provide means for moving the lathe chucks or holders in conjunction with a crank shaft held thereby back and forth longitudinally a distance sufiicient to cause the face of the grinder automatically to be moved back and forth across the surface of the crank shaft bearing for the full length thereof.

In carrying out the last-named object, it is a further object to provide means for progressively, successively, and continuously operating to move the chucks 'or Work holders, together with a crank shaft held thereby, longitudinally a given distance and for reversing the operation of the same at the end of a suitable distance of travel in either direction.

It is a further object of our invention to provide simple and effective means for bringing the face grinding tool, whether used for grinding main bearings or rod bearings, into parallel relation with the axial centers of the main bearings.

It is a further object of our invention to provide buffing or polishing means operative upon the surface of a crank shaft bearing and to be shifted along the length thereof by reason of the aforesaid shifting of the chucks or Work holders and the crank shaft held thereby back and forth longitudinally.

It is a further feature of our invention when grinding main bearings, in conjunction with other features of the invention hereinhefore described, 'to employ a powerful magnet to aid in holding the "main bearing in fixed and unyielding axial alignment with the face of the grinding disc.

The full objects and advantages of our invention will be given in detail in the appended specification, and the novel features of the invention by which the aforesaid highly advantageous results are secured will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating an application of our invention in one of its forms:

Fig. 1 is a part perspective side elevation view of our crank case grinder.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram for showing the hook-up for operating the motors and the reversing switches.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of the crank case grinder taken from the left side as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary sectional side elevation view of a part shown in Fig. 4, wherein the slidable member for supporting the grinder and the motor for operating it will have rollers engaging it for all its contacts.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig, 1, when the crank shaft there shown has not been applied.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation view of the bearing for the slidable lathe shaft section in conjunction with the drive reversing means oscillating the lathe shafts and the crank shaft supported thereby'back and forth endwise in the machine.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation view taken through the housing for the reversing gearing.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line l 0"l 0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 'I |-l I of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view taken on the line l2+|2of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 'isa sectional elevation view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a section on the line I'd-1'4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional transverse elevation view of a modified means of supporting the grinding tool for grinding main bearings and showing the reversing tripper arm in dotted lines out of operative position.

Fig. 16 is a perspectiveside elevation view of the parts shown in Fig. 15, including the tripper arm and magnet.

Fig. 17 is an end elevation view of the tripper arm.

Fig. 1-8 is .a transverse sectional elevation of a part of the stand similar to the part shown in Fig. 4, with means for automatically shifting the grinding tool back and forth on a throw or rod bearing.

Fig, 19 is an enlarged side elevation view of the upper part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18 for causingautomatic lateral travel and reversal of the tool operative in grinding rod or throw bearings.

Fig.20 'is a sectional view taken on line 28-29 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21,'iS an enlarged plan view showing the means :of adjustment of the transverse rod support for the motor and tool carrier for holding the face grinder in operative position.

Fig. 22 is-a sectional View taken on the line 22 -22 of Fig.21.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, a lathe frame is provided consisting of heavy casting. supports l and I6 secured to and supporting a heavy cap piece H which is hollow to form a chamber Hi. This cap piece is provided with end standards l9 and 26 formed with bottom flanges 2| and 22 which engage and'are bolted to corresponding flanges 23 and 24 formed on the upper portions of heavy casting supports [5 and I6.

The casting supports I5 and I6 are secured in parallel relation by diagonal struts l5a and l6a, whichare welded at their ends to the supports l5 and I6 and may be welded together at their cross. point. The castingsupports I5 and I6 may further be held in parallel relation by a hearing shaft 25 rather'close to the bottom and a second shaft 26; These shafts will preferably be immovably united attheir ends with the bodies of casting members l5 and I6, the, union being effected by any desired method, such for example, as welding. A third shaft 21, which has a highly important function in the applicants machine is held to the supporting castings i5 and I6 by clamping keepers 26 and 29 bolted to sides of said supporting castings. Keeper 29 is especially constructed to provide for an important adjustment later described herein.

At the left hand end of the lathe frame adjacent the'supportihg casting l6, apowerful connecting bracket 39 is secured to the cap piece ll. The cap piece is provided with an opening 3| on its inner side. The casting 36 has a plate 92 with a rectangular projecting portion 33 which en,- gages with its edges the edges of the opening 3|. The casting 36 also is provided with a central web 34, Fig. 6, through which extends an angularly disposed hole 35. A bolt 35 has a bent portion 31 screw-threaded toward its end, as indicated at 38, which extends in and along the hole 35. The bent portion 38 of bolt 36 continues in a horizontal portion 39 to a head 40 fast thereon. The head 40 takes against a clamping plate 4|. A wing nut 42 is threaded upon the threaded portion 38 of angularly extended bolt portion 31 and may be turned to apply great force upon the clamping plate 4| by means of the transverse wing arms 43. By these means the casting 36 is removably and adjustably secured in a very strong and rigid manner to the cap piece H of the lathe frame.

The casting 36 at the end of web 34 is provided with an elongated bearing boss 44, shown in its outer length in Fig. 1, and in cross-section in Fig. 6. Within the boss 44 is an extended bearingcylindrical surface v45. A chuck shaft 46, Figs. 3 and 6, is held in said bearing and normally free to rotate and slide endwise therein.

The bearing boss 44 is, however, longitudinally split at 41, as indicated in Fig. 6, and a bolt 48 enables the bearing to be loosened or tightened as conditions may require.

A second elongated bearing boss 49 is in allrespects identical with the. bearing boss 44 and houses a chuck shaft 59, Figs. land 8. The bearing boss 49 is carried by a bracket 5| in all respects the same as the bracket 36, being held to the cap piece I! in the same way, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 46 extending through bearing boss 44 is provided with a chuck head 52, Figs. 1 and 3, and the chuck shaft 56 similarly is provided with a chuck head 53, the two chuck heads'facing each other as clearly shown in Fig.

l. A crank shaft 54 having customary main end bearings and main center bearings 56, and intervening crankor throw bearings 51, Figsl and 4, is adapted to be held between the two chuck heads 52 and 53. Adjustment for holding differ- .ent lengths of bearings will be made by moving bracket "5| along the side of cap piece IT in either 'direction,.and nice adjustments for that purpose may be made by sliding the supporting shafts 50 of chuck head 53 in its long bearing 49.

Fast on the end of chuck shaft 46 is a pulley-58 over which runs a belt 59 which also runs over a pulley 66 driven by a motor 6|. This motor, together with gear case 62, rests upon a shelf 63 extending from main upright casting 6 and having a bracket support 64, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. It follows that when the crank shaft 54 has its ends locked to the chuck shafts 46 and 50 and these shafts receive driving power from the motor. 6| through the pulleys 58 and 66 and the driving belt 59, the entire assemblage including the main bearings 55, 56 and the crank bearings 51', will all be rotated about the axial center line through the chuck shafts 46 and 56, which is in alignment with the axial centers of the main bearings. When-the crank shaft 54 is so rotated it will be obvious that the main bearings 55 and 56 will be rotated about their axial centers, but the crank shaft rod bearings Will partake of a combination movement including in effect a rotation about their axial centers and a planetary rotation bodily about the axial center of the main bearings. The crank shaft grinder, when its face is presented to the crank shaft rod bearings must, therefore, partake of that same planetary motion. That is, a motion in a circle, which necessitates the oscillation of the grinder and its support back and forth, and in connection with that rotation an in and out linear movement to maintain the face of the grinde in contact with the surface of the rod bearing. 7

As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, a plate 65 is provided with an elongated boss 66 which. is

formed with a smoothly milled inner cylindrical bearing surface 61. This cylindrical bearing is mounted upon the smoothly milled and polished shaft 27. When so mounted it has freedom of movement to slide along the shaft and to oscillate about the axial center of the shaft. A sliding support 68 which is rectangular in cross-section and may be wider than it is thick, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, or may be square in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 5, is mounted upon and carried by the plate 65. The mounting shown in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a keeper 69 which takes over the back and along, the sides of the bar 68 and holds it with its back against'the outer face of the plate 65. Pairs of rollers 16, Fig. 4, and H, Fig. 3, are mounted at right angles to the plate 65 and engage thesides'of the sliding support 68. The support thus is mounted to slide back and forth 1 withvery littlefrictional resistance.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, a pair of rollers 12 and 13 are journalled at the ends of the plate 65, I

so that the bottom of sliding support 68 will engage those rollers, and a roller I4 is journalled at the top of the sliding support 68 in place of the keeper 69 and engages that top. So in this form in Fig. ,4, .has an extension 18, which passes through a cylindrical opening in a boss I9 extending from acarrier casting-80 in which'is 'ex- "tended longitudinally a grinder shaft 81 having thereon 'a face grinder 82 of well kno'wn construction, formed with a flat top grindirig'face*83-. The -extension "I8 is provided with an adjustable 'hcokmember 84, Fig. 4, formed with rollers"85 and 86 adapted to engage the surface of a' 'cra'nk Shaft IOd bearing '51. A thilr'rib hiitTo'dfl 'dprates to extend and retract the shaft 11 carrying the hook '80 so'as to 'bring'the "rollers on 'hook' 80 and the face 83 of grinder 82 'in contact with the surface of the crank shaft rod bearing'SLan'd the iir'essu're of the grinder 82 "against said surface may beregulated by means of'the thumb nut '81 and is contrclled by a compression'spring 89 surrounding the rod 1'! between a 'wash'er90 fast on the rod TI and a second washer 9I "which rests upon ab'o'ss'92 fa'st on the carrier casting,

Upon rod 25-isslidably mountedah elongated bearing 93 fast on 'a plate 94 which carries 'a fn oto r 95. From a uuey '96 on the Shaft-Of Said motormounted outside-"of pIate SA, a beItBIdri-ifes asecond pulley 98, and awijdepully '99 on'a pulley shaft I 00, drives a buffer and polishing "belt I'0I "which will extend over acrankfcase'rod bearing?! as shown in Figs. 1 and'4. 'A m'otor I02 is mounted on a block I03 on-the carrier'c'as'tingBiI. The driven js'haft '8I of the motor 1 02 rotates the grinder 82. I

F'rom the above arr'angement'it will be apparent that the grinder'82 may be applied to any of the crank shaft 'main bearings 55 and 5 6and to any bearings 51, and that simultaneously the buffer and polishing belt IOI may be appliedto any other crank shaft bearing. When-the inotors 95, I02, and GI are all put in operation, simultaneously the crank shaft '54 will'be rotated, the grinder shaft '8I and grinder 82 "will 'be rotated in a plane at right angles'tothe axial line "of the crank shaft rod bearing '51 to which said grinder has been applied, and the buffing and polishing belt I I willbe driven to effect buffing and polishing of the crank shaft bearing to which it isapplied. Means is provided-for causing the two chuck shaftsflfi and 50 and the crank shaft held thereby to lhove back and forth in the long bearings 44 'a'nd"45. This means is operated during'simultaneous turning of the chuck shafts and crank shaft held thereby. To accom'plish'this 'I provide a gear case I04 having a back 'wall I05, Figs. 12 and 13. This back'wall is provided'witha bearing boss I which receives the end of'chuck shaft'50, as indicated at I01 in Fig. 13. The'end 'ofthe chuck shaft is in effect journalle'd in this bearing boss I 05, and rotates freely" therein while it'is adapted to slide therealong. The gear case ('04 is provided with a wall I08 having the shape indicated in Fig. 9. A removable coverfl'09 is secured to the edge of this wall by screw bolts I I0 enclosing a chamber' I I within the gear 'case' I04. In axial alignment with the chuck's'haft 50 'is'a shaft extension II2 which goesthroughan'open- I ling'in the back of the gear case I04 and toward Q the' top of the chamber I II,'as clearly'shown in Figs. 19 and '13. This shaft extension may be formed integrally with chuck shaft 50"o'r'may' be coupled to it in any suitable manner so as to be rotated by the rotation 'Ofthe chuck shaftto,

"I'hes'haft extension I I2is coupled at I'I4, Fig.

1-3,with a threaded shaftmember I-I5, which has a bearing at I I6 in a boss II! on the-cover I09 of the gear box I0 1. The shaft "extension H5 is threaded as' indicated at I I8. Any-other suitable means-of coupling theshaft extension IIZ'to the shaft member II 5 so-the latter may be-driven by the former is contemplatedand within the-scope 'of my invention. The means ofconnection shown at 'I I' l causes the shaft extension 115 to be freely rotatable relative to the shaft IIZ'but at the same time so as to effect longitudinal movement of the shaft II2 whenever the "shaft I I5 with gear'case =I04 is caused to move longitudinally. 'Any suitable form of coupling to accomplish this result may'b'e'employed. A satisfactory form is indicated in Figs. :13 and 14, where a circumferential groove I53 is formed about the reduced coupling member II4 on extensionshaft H2, and screw members I54 extend into the groove I53, coupling the threaded shaft I15 to extension shaft II2 so that itmay rotate independently thereof while it has a connectionfor longitudinal drag on it and on all parts carried by it.

As best shown 'in'FigsJS and 10, the shaft extension II 5 i's adaptedto have engaged'with the threads'll 8 thereon, half thread's'indicated at I I9 on the underside of a swinging connector-block I20 which is adapted to be locked in engaging position by-means ofa bolt I2I which passes through a lug arm I22. This lug -arm is provided with a sleeve I23 which'is mounted on an anchor shaft I24 and which engages an annular member I25 and is locked thereto andtothe anchor shaft I24 by means of a nut I25 threaded on'the end of'the anchor shaft I24.

The latter is rigidly connected with 'the'bracket 5i supporting the long bearing 49, and which bracket is rigidly connected'to the cap memberI'I ofth'e frame, as indicated in Fig. '8. It follows that'when'the shaft extensionl' I5 is rotated'and 'thep'arts are coupled together-as indicated in Figs.'8 andlO, the shaft 'extension'l I5 and'parts connected therewith, including the gear case I I04 an'd'the "chuck shafts and 46 'connectedtogether by 'the int'ermediately positioned crank shaft54, willbe advanced'or-retracted according to the direction of rotation of'the shaft H5.

The g ar case I04 is -at all times restrained from turningwith'the"chuck shaft 50 and-extension shafts [I2 and II 5' by a bar I secured to'the top of the gear case wall I08 by meansof boltslfli. Any other suitable means for. preventing turning "while'permitting ba'ck'and forthm'ovement may be employed. -As shown, the 'member155has :a horizontal part I51 which engagesin a notch formed in an upstanding- 'p'roj e'ction I 58 on a; bar I59 secured by bolts I 65 to-the topof thebracket 5 I. 'Ihehoriz'ontalpart I51 of'arm I 55 can slide freely-in thenotch on the upstanding member I58 but is thereby held from turning and s0 holds from turning the gear'caselfifl 'and'parts associated therewith, while at the same" time 'leaving these parts free to-be movedinthe'axi alline of the chuck shaft bearings.- Screw -plugs I 60" closeoiling openings leading to the gearin'gin the gear case chamber II I.

As best shown in Figs. 9, 12, and i352; pinion sprocket I2I'is fast on shaft extension I IZ' Within thechamber Ii! inside'igear box I04. 'A'gear I I I along back wall 5 I05 there'of. The #slidable held in rigid adjusted cording to the block I30, as clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, is supported upon a stud I3I which extends through a slotv I32 in the lower part of the back wall I05 of the gear case. Therstud I3I is secured to a second sliding block I33 mounted to slide along the surface of a recess I34 formed in the outside of said back wall as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The outside block I33 has secured thereto a projecting block I35. Eye-bolts l36'and I36 are position in the projecting block I35 by means of set screws I31. The eyebolts are pivotally connected at I38 and I38 with the respective armature arms I39 and I39 of solenoids I40 and I46, Fig. 6 spring arms I11, I11 respectively engage opposite ends of the block I33 tending to keep the block in a central neutral position.

Upon the pin-shaft I26 are mounted a sprocket wheel I M and a gear I42, and on the pin shaft I29 are correspondingly mounted a sprocket wheel I43 and a gear I44, Fig. l2,'such'wheel and gear being connected together to rotate in unison. The gear I42 and I44 mesh as clearly indicated in Figs. 9 and 12. Running over the sprocketpinion I21 and sprocket gears MI and I43, is a sprocket chain I45.

It follows .that tated and in turn rotates theshaft extension I I2, the sprocket pinion I21 will drive the sprocket wheels MI and I43. The sprocket wheel I43 being rigidly connected to gear I44, said gear .I44 will be rotated by the wheel I43 and said gear being fingers I61 and I61.

tion will overlie a side of the crank shaft bearing being ground.

The lower end of depending plate member I65 has pivotallyconnected thereto, as indicated at I56 and I66, a pair of make-and-break swinging The upper ends of these members are provided with contact pieces I13 and I13. Wire I15 and I10 connect with the relays I69 and I69, and other wires I12 and I12 connect with contacts I13 and I13, all as shown in Figs. 1'7 and 19. The contacts I13 and I13 are adapted to engage corresponding contacts I14 and I14 on the relays I69 and I69, respectively. A link I15 pivotally connects the swinging fingers I61 and I61. Their ends I61a and I61b are positioned between side walls I5I and I52 of a main bearing I50, as clearly indicated in Fig. 17. Normally, the contacts I13 and I13 are held out of engagement with contacts I 14 and I14. When, however, an end I61a or I61b of the swinging fingers I61 or I61 contacts a bearing wall I5I,'

it will swing the contact I13 or I13 into engagement with relay contact I14 or I14, and current when the chuck shaft 50 is roin mesh with the gear I42 which is freely rotatable 1 on pin shaft I28, saidgears I42 and I44 will rotate in opposite directions.

A spur gear I46 is mounted to rotate freely on shaft extension II2, Figs. 9 and 13. One or the other of gears I42 or I 44 may be brought into mesh with the freely rotatable large gear I46 acposition of the slide I30 that carries the pin shafts I28 and I29. Since the sliding of the block I30 is in effect about the axis of shaft extension I I2, this movement willnot interfere with the drive of gears I 42 and I44 and a shift in driving the large gear I46 from gear I42 to I44,-or vice versa, will immediately reverse the direction of rotation of gear I46. 7

Upon spur gear I46 is mounted a pin I41 which projects out over the second shaft extension II5. A second pin I48 goes through shaft extension I I5 and projectsfrom it so as to be contacted at one side or the other by pin I41. It follows that when the block I30 slides the pin I3I along -the slot I32 it will unmesh'one of the gears, as gear I44, Fig. 9, and mesh gear I42 with the large gear I46, which will immediately reverse the direction of rotation of gear I46 and bring the pin I41 into contact with the opposite side of pin I48. This will, of course, reverse the direction of rotation of threaded shaft extension I I5. I

The sliding of the block I30 is brought about by energizing and de-energizing the solenoids I and I40, and this is accomplished through closing and breaking of one or the other of the circuits directly brought about by contact with the walls of the crank shaft rod hearing or main bearing. Having reference to Figs. 2, 15, and 1'7, a crank shaft main bearing is having side walls I5I and I52. On a stand I6I, Figs. 15 and 16, is rigidly connected a normally horizontal bar I62. The bar I62 has pivotally connected to its end by means of a bolt I63 and a head I64 a depending plate member I65. This plate member may be swung laterally, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 15, and in its vertical posiindicated at I50 will then go through the relay, energizing it and holding the switch closing contact I13 or I13 in switch closing position until it is forcibly moved away from contact, thus breaking the circuit.

When a main bearing of the crank shaft as an entirety is moved endwise with the chuck shafts by the means heretofore described, assumin the movement is to the right, as indicated in Fig. 17, the end I61a of finger I61 will be caused to contact the main bearing face I5I, which will swing the member I61 on the pivot I66 to cause the contact I13 to engage the relay contact I14. This will close the circuit, which, as shown in Fig. 2, passes through the relay I69. The solenoid will then act to slide the block I30 connected by stud I3I with block I33 which in turn is connected with armature actuated member I35, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. This movement is against the force of spring I11 surrounding the chuck shaft 50 and engaging the outer block I33, Figs. 11 and 12 at both sides.

The effect of this will be to connect the gear I42 in chamber III of gear case I04 to drive gear I46 and turn threaded extension shaft I I5 in a clockwise direction for causing the threaded engagement of I I8 with the half threads H9 on arm I20 to pull the chuck shafts and crank shafts held between them to the left, as viewed in Figs. 8 and 17. This will carry the end I610. of finger I61 away from the face I5I. But the relay I69 will continue to hold'the contact piece I12 in circuitclosing position.

In time, however, the end I611) of finger I61 will engage the face I52. This engagement will simultaneously swing the levers I61 and I61 on pivots I65 and I66 and pull the contact I13 out to break contact with relay I69, and at the same time close the circuit through contacts I13 and I14. When this happens the solenoid I69.will be de-energized and the solenoid I69 will be energized and will push the block I33 and the parts connected therewith in the opposite direction, thus unmeshing gear I42- and meshing gear I44 with large gear I46 and turning. threaded screw H5 in the opposite or counter-clockwise direction to cause the screw II5 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction which will reverse the movement of the parts. That is, the chuck shafts and crank shaft held by them will again travel to the right,

- as viewed in Figs. 8 and 17. And the reversing operations will be repeated and continue to be reonly rotation about their several axes.

ficiently ground and another crank shaft bearing has been buffed and polished. The operation will then be-stopped and the grinder tool and polishing belt will be applied to other crank shaft bearings.

When the current is cut off for stopping operation, or if, at any time, current is cut off, spring arms I11 and I11, Figs. 11 and 12, engaging the ends of the sliding block I33-wil1 swing the same and with it the gears I42 and IM into neutral position as shown in Fig. 9 when both of these gears are out of mesh with the large gear wheel I46 and no further operation of the back and forth movement of the chuck shaft, and crank shaft held between them can take place, even if these parts continue to be driven from motor BI. This is a safety feature, protecting against possible breakage of parts.

The above description of automatic operation has been related to the main bearings, which have But we contemplate the automatic shift back and forth of the grinder tool against the surface of the rod or throw bearings a well as against main bearings. The simple means of effecting this, using principally substantially the same devices which operate the back and forth automatic movement for main bearings, are shown in Figs. 18 to 20.

As there shown, the carrier bar 58 with its bosses 15 and 16, the plate 55 for supporting it, and the rollers 10, 1|, 12, 13 and M are unchanged. In place of the rod 11 mounted to slide ard osciL late in the bosses 15 and 16, we provide here a different type of rod 205, which, as shown in Fig. 20, is rectangular in cross-section, preferably square, and which is adapted to slide longitudinally in square openings 2B6 extending through the bosses 15 and 16. This restrains the grinder carrier" 80 and connected motor I02 from oscillating on the carrier 68 and holds them in fixed alignment. This arrangement, while restraining the carrier 80 and parts connected with it, from oscillating laterally with respect to the carrier 58 which is held locked against such oscillation by the rollers 10, 12, and 14, will, nevertheless, at the same time permit free longitudinal up and down movement as well as oscillating movement of the carrier bar 68 and free longitudinal movement of the tool carrier 89 under adjusted compulsion of spring 89 to force the face of grinder tool 81 at all times against the surface of a rod bearing 51.

The special bar 295 has an extension 201, Fig. 18, to which a part 2% of th hook member is rigidly secured. The roller bearings 259 which engage the surface of rod bearing 51, are in this fixed hook arm 208. And the movable hook arm 2 I is held in adjusted position with its roller 2 H9 in engagement with the rod bearing 51 by means of the spring 2 controlled by adjusting thumb screw 2 I 2.

The extension 20? carrying the relays I59 and I59 and the contact making fingers I6? and I61 and also carrying the part 208 and the hook member and rollers, is removably secured to the rod member 205 as indicated at ZIS in Fig. 18, and thus may be removed when it is desired to use the apparatus for grinding main bearings.

The extension 291 goe to a high point at H3 and has secured to the opposite sides thereof brackets 2I4 and H5 which carry the relays I69 and I69, heretofore described, excepting that these relays are attached to and move with extension 201 of rectangular bar 285. These members and their contacts and their relation to the makeand break fingers I61 and I61 are identically the same as when these element' are associated with a main bearing. The ends "51a and It1b of the make and break fingers I61 and I61 are, asshown in Fig. 19, positioned so as to come between the rotating faces 2I6 and 2I1 of a rod or throwbearing 2I8. The wires I10 and I12'for relay I69v and I16 and I12 for relay I69" will normally be brought together in a flexible cable which will permit the movement of the extension 201 as above outlined without interfering with the electrical circuits to the relays I69 and I59" and to the solenoids I40 and I46.

The operation for grinding crank shaft or throw bearings and for automatically shifting them longitudinally to produce automatic grinding of the whole surface of these hearings, will not vary substantially from that described for the main bearings. The only difference will be that the extension member 201 and the contact making fingers I61 and I61 will partake of the identical rotating and sliding movements of the carrier member 63. The sameeffective and certain grinding will take place, automatically made to cover the entire length of the rod or throw bearing between the side walls thereof, and will be effected for the throw bearings as it is effected for the main bearings.

The relays I69 and IE9 are small and not heavy, and the oscillation of these relays will not affect in any way their capacity to make these contacts. It will be noted that the fingers I61 and I61 are of spring metal and can yield while the slight gaps 220 and HI between the contacts I13, I14 and. I13 and I14,are open. This action will follow the shifting of the fingers in either direction which, because of the link I15, must shift together. It follows that when that shifting is effected in either direction it simultaneously breaks one of the contacts and remakes the other contact, and this will be true whetherthe apparatus is grinding main bearings or rod or throw bearings.

In order to have the automatic grinding of either main or throw bearings completely effective, it is necessary that the face of the grinder 81 be parallel to the central axis of the particular crank bearing which is being ground, which means necessarily that the plane of the face shall be parallel with the central axis of themain hearing. To mill carriers such as 205 and their supports, sufficiently accurately to be absolutely certain to effect this parallelism, is almost, if not wholly, impossible. Yet we have discovered that a very slight angular relation between the face of the grinder and the axis of the bearing will produce a tapered bearing which will be unsatisfactory in use no matter how smooth and true otherwise the grinding may be. An important feature of our invention is the means We employ to overcome this difficulty.

As heretofore pointed out, the plate 65 for holdingthe oscillating and sliding carrier 68, or 205, is mounted to slide along a straight polished bar 21 secured to the sides of members I5 and I6 by keeper plates 28 and 29 secured thereto. The keeper plate 29 as shown in Fig. 22, is secured to the side of upright supporting member I5 by means of bolts 222 and 223 which pass. through elongated holes 224 and. 225 formed in keeper flanges 226 and 221, The keeper base 228 engages a raised flat face 229 and is held by the bolts 230 and 23I passing through lugs 232 and 233, set out from the ends of. said flattened face portion 229, The ends of the bolts 230 and RI engage the ends of flange portions 226 and 221.

* By loosening bolts 222 and 223 and screwing bolts 230 and 23I the keeper 29 may be moved longitudinally in one or the other direction, up or down, along the mounting surface 229. This will result in shifting the carrier 68 or 205 to correspondingly shift the face of the grinder tool 81 by which means said face may be brought exactly into parallel relation with the axis of the main bearings and of the rod bearings.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be apparent that current goes from line wires I18 and I19. Following the current from wire I13 through wires I80 and I8I, the current goes to drive motor 6| and through wire I82 to grinder motor I02. Current from drive motor 6| returns to line wire I19 by wire I83 and switch wire I84, and current from grinder motor I02 returns to line wire I19 through wire I85 and switch wire I84. A supplemental circuit carries current from line wire I12 by wire I86 through solenoid I16. A branch wire I86 from wire I 86 connects with solenoid I16.- Wire I extends between relay I69 and solenoid I16 and wire I10 extends between relay I69 and solenoid I16. Through a wire I81, in circuit with the contacts I13 and I13, a branch wire I84 and main switch I88, the current returns to the main line wire I19 whenever either of the relay contacts I14 or I14 are closed. The main switch I88 is the on-and-off switch for the entire apparatus. The buffer motor 95 will be in the same circuit, not shown, and may have a supplemental switch to put it out of operation when desired.

for six, eight, and twelve-cylinder motors there I would be larger numbers of interior cmain bearings.

Inasmuch as the crank shaft must be supported as a whole merely from its ends, there is serious difliculty in holding the interior main bearings firmly and certainly in alignment, due

to the natural sag which comes from a long piece of heavy steel. practical way to put a direct support under such interior main crank shaft bearings. We have discovered that this problem is effectively met by using a powerful magnet engaging the main bearing from above and holding it finmly against 4 rollers on the armature of the magnet.

This arrangement is shown particularly in Figs. 15 and 16. As there shown, a casting attachment I90 (which carries the stand I6I already described) is adapted to be secured adiustably as to longitudinal position, to the top rail I1 of the lathe in a manner similar to the means of securing the bearings for the chuck shafts to "the same member. As shown in Fig. 15, the casting I90 is provided with a bolt I9I which passes through a plate I92 and ha a nut I93 and a cross pin I94 outside of the casting I90 and the plate I92, respectively. By screwing upon the nut I93, the casting attachment I90 can be securely attached to the top rail I1 in any desired position along it. Between the stand arms of the stand I6I is mounted a strong magnet I95 which is energized by wire I96 leading to it. The magnet has an armature I91 upon which are rollers I98, Fig. 15, adapted to engage On the other hand, there is no a main interior bearing 56 directly at thetop thereof. Any other suitable mounting of the magnet will be within the scope of our invention.

When the magnet I95 is energized the attractionthrough armature I91 will hold the main crank shaft bearing firmly against the rollers I98, in this manner supporting a substantial part ofthe weight. of the crank shaft andenabling accurate grinding thereof without danger of dishing because of sagging of the shaft. Other parts are in general not substantially different from those heretofore described. However, since the carrier bar 68 does not require to he slid up and down or oscillated as is true when crank shaft rod bearings are being ground, I have found in practice that it is desirable, when grinding main bearings, to secure the carrier 68 against any movement. This I do by securing to a lug I99 on member I90 a link 200, which is preferably rigidly secured to lug member I99 and this link in turn is firmly secured at-20I to a lug 202 on the carrier bar 68.

Since the position of the magnet and the center of its field of attraction may affect the axial line of the main bearing, we have provided special means for making an adjustment to bring the center of the field of attraction of the magnet directl in the vertical plane passing through the true axis of the main bearing being ground. The effect of this is to further insure that the plane of the face of the grinder 82 will be (parallel to the axis of the main bearings 56 or I50. We accomplish this correction with simplebut unusual means.

The shaft 21 upon which is mounted the hearing 66 of the bracket for supporting the grinding means is milled very true and round as is the interior bearing 66,.so that the carrier may move back and forth along the shaft 21 with a suitable degree of ease. To insure that grindings will not get into the bearing and tend to wear it and also to produce friction, we provide a bagging indicated at 203 and 204 of Fig. 1 to protect the shaftand keep all of the grinding dust away from it.

The member I90 is an ordinary casting which is formed with laterally disposed openings 234 and 235, Fig. 16. Slit-like openings 236 and 231 are formed extending from end points 238 and 299 of the casting into the openings 234 and 235. This leaves a central pedestal 240 of the cast metal with a depending portion 24| provided with laterally extended arms 242 and 243 below the kerf or cut-out portions 236 and 231 and also separated by only the thickness of said kerf by top arms 244 and 245. Screw bolts 246 .and 241 are threaded through these arms as clearly shown in Fig. 16.

We have discovered that by turning up on one of these bolts and turning down on the other bolt, there is enough yield to the metal of the pedestal 240 so that the entire casting above that pedestal may be shifted laterally. This shift, though small in actual amount, will be sufficient to carry the vertical plane of the magnets field into the vertical plane passing through the axial center of the main bearing, which will cause the pull of the magnet to have the effect of placing that center line in parallel relation to the plane of the top face of the grinder.

While we have described the magnetic supporting arrangement as applied to main bearings, and in general it is designed to be used in connection with the grinding or main bearings, in

the grinding of throw bearings on long shafts it may be desirable to support the crank shaft magnetically from the immediately adjacent main bearing. fhis, Of course, is done exactly as above described, with the application of no additional means, but it will tend to hold the entire crank shaft and all of the crank bearings thereon, including the throw bearings, as Well as the main bearings, at all times [parallel with the true horizontal axis of the main bearings,

The advantages of my invention have been made to appear in general in connection with the detailed description given in the foregoing specification. A fundamental and primary advantage resides in the fact that perfect grinding of crank shaft bearings, either main bearings or rod bearings, can be effected absolutely automatically, and, at the same time and with the same operation of rotating the crank shaft, the buffin'g and polishing of the various bearings may take place; While we have only shown a single grinding unit and a single buffing unit, it will be obvious that any desired number of grinding units may be assembled upon the supporting rod 2'! and correspondingly any desired number of. buffing units may be assembled on the supporting rod 25, and all of said units be caused to operate simultaneously upon one crank shaft. In such an assemblage there will need to be only one of the stands ifll and swinging contact levers it? for controlling the oscillation back and forth of the crank shaft in conjunction with the chuck shafts holding the same.

Also, it is an esesntial and particular advantage of our invention not only to make our machine operate entirely automaticall for grinding and polishing one or more crank shaft bearings simultaneously, but very materially to im- .prove the grinding and polishing operation. This is effected in a highly satisfactor manner b the longitudinal back and forth movement of the crank shaft as held by the chuck shafts, so the grinding tool and the polishing tool may be successfully presented over the whole length and the entire circumferential area of each bearing which is being ground. It is further advantageously effected by the means provided which make possible placing the face of the grinder absolutely parallel with the axes of the bearings. And means for doing that. is provided for both main bearings and rod or throw bearings,

It is a highly important advantage of our invention that this oscillation of the crank shaft is effected by its rotation through simple and effective means controlled by the make-andbreak of solenoid circuits through alternate engagement of the make-and-break fingers with the opposite side walls of a crank shaft hearing.

A further great advantage of our invention resides in the fact that the grinder assemblage, including the motor for rotating the grinder tool, is so mounted on the supporting shaft that it may readily be moved from one bearing to another and that its oscillating and rocking movements aresubstantially all controlled by contacts with roller guides.

It is a further great advantage of our invention that the grinding of main interior bearings of the crank shaft, and also of throw or rod bearings, is made exceptionally certain and sure by giving an overhead support for the crank 70 shaft at said bearings through the operation of a powerful magnet presented to the bearings at that point.

We claim:

1. In a crank shaft grinder, a pair of aligned 75 chuck shaftsmounted for joint rotary and lonitudinal movements when a crank shaft is locked to said chuck shafts, means for rotating the chuck shafts and crank shaft held thereby, means including a gear driven by the rotation of the chuck shafts and crank shaftheld by them for moving them longitudinally as they are being rotated, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of said gear to cause reversal of said longitudinal movement, and means associated with the side walls of a crank shaft bearing for Controlling said direct and reverse longitudinal movements to limit them inextent to the length of the crank shaft bearing being ground.

2. In a crank shaft grinder including a pair of aligned chuck shafts mounted for joint rotary and longitudinal movements when a crank shaft is locked to said chuck shafts, means to move and to reverse longitudinalmovement of said chuck shafts and crank shaft While rotary movement continues, comprising a gear box, a train of gears therein driven by a rotating chuck shaft including a pair of gears constantly driven in opposite directions, a floating gear adapted to be meshed With either of said oppositely rotating gears to be driven thereby in opposite directions, and means for connecting said floating gear operatively to the chuck shaft assemblage to cause the same to be moved endwise forward and back as the oppositely driven gears are successively meshed and unrneshed with the floating ear.

3. In a crank shaft grinder including a pair of aligned clhuck shafts mounted for joint rotary and longitudinal movements when a crank shaft is locked to said chuck shafts, means to move and to reverse longitudinalmovemenlt of said chuck shafts and crank shaft while rotary movement continues, comprising a gear box, a train of gears therein driven by a rotating chuck shaft including a pair of gears constantly driven in opposite directions, a floating gear adapted to be meshed with either of said oppositely rotating gears to be driven thereby in opposite directions, means including a solenoid, and means for connecting said floating gear operatively to the chuck shaft assemblage to cause the same to bemoved endwise forward and back as the oppositely driven gears are successively mesh and unmeshed with the floating gear.

4. In a crank shaft grinder, a grinding tool and means for rotating it, supporting means to hold the grinder against a bearing while the crank shaft is being rotated, constantly driven means for moving the bearing endwise back and forth, and means including solenoids and electric circuits for operating them for causin regular reversal of movement to limit said back and forth movement to the length of the bearing, said means including circuit make and break devices, and fingers for operating the same engageable with the side Wall of the bearing to effect such reversal.

5. A crank shaft grinder comprising a planefaced grinding tool and sliding and oscillating means for supporting the same so that said face may be continuously presented to the surface of of a rod bearing while the crank shaft is being rotated, said means includin a hook device riding upon said bearing, an extension of said lastnamed means, a pair of relays mounted on said extension, a pair of solenoids operative for gear shifting, a circuit for said solenoids, and means to make and break said circuit including fingers mounted on said extension and adapted to be successively engaged by the side Walls of said rod bearing.

6. A crankshaft grinder tool, comprising means for holding and rotating a crankshaft about its axial center, a grinder having a plane face, means for rotating the grinder and for holding its face a ainst an intermediate main bearing of the crankshaft as it is rotated, magnetic means having its field of attraction positioned above the crankshaft and operative to aid in its support to hold it for rotation about its axial center, and means for moving said magnetic means so as to cause its maximum lifting field to lie in the vertical plane of the axis of the bearing and to hold said bearing so that the axis thereof will be parallel to the plane of said grinder face.

'7. In a crankshaft grinder, means for holding a crankshaft including a pair of aligned chuck shafts with means for locking the crankshaft thereto, said chuck shafts and crankshaft being mounted for combined rotary and longitudinal movements, means for rotating the chuck shafts and the crankshaft held thereby, a gear connected to one of the chuck shafts and rotated thereby, means connected with said gear including a threaded shaft for moving the chuck shafts and crankshaft held by them longitudinally when the latter are being driven, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of said gear to cause reversal of rotation of the threaded shaft and effect reversing of the direction of longitudinal movement of the chuck shafts and crankshaft.

8. In a crankshaft grinder, means for holding a crankshaft including a pair of aligned chuck shafts with means for locking the crankshaft thereto, said chuck shafts and crankshaft being mounted for combined rotary and longitudinal movements, agrinder tool having a plane face,

means for simultaneously rotating the grinder tool and holding its face against the surface of a crankshaft rod bearing held by the chuck shafts while the same is being rotated, a gear connected with one of said chuck shafts including a threadedshaft for moving the chuck shafts and crank shaft held by them longitudinally as they are being rotated, and means rendered operative by the longitudinal movements of the rod bearing for reversing the direction of rotation of said gear to cause reversal of rotation of the threaded shaft and thus to effect reversal of the direction of longitudinal movement of the chuck shafts and crankshaft.

9. In a crankshaft grinder, a supporting frame having end standards, means thereon for holding crankshaft including a pair of aligned dhuck shaft with means for locking the shaft thereto; means for rotating the chuck shafts and the crankshaft held thereby, a shaft member extending between and supported upon the standards, a grinder frame having a part mounted on the shaft member for rocking and lateral movements thereon, a grinder carried by the grinder frame having a plane face held thereby to engage a crankshaft bearing; means for operating the grinder while the crankshaft is being rotated, lugs on one of the standards, a keeper holding an end of said shaft against the standard between said lugs, and means carried by the lugs for mak-v ing close adjustment of the keeper to move the end of the shaft up or down to bring the face of the grinder carried by the grinder frame into a plane parallel with the axis of the rod bearing.

ELMER ALVIN FUGLIE. HILTON JOHN ANDERSON. 

